Can You Mix Wet and Dry Dog Food?
We, pet parents, are vigilant about what we feed our furry babies. The choices we make are always about making sure our dog’s nutritional needs are met and they enjoy their meals as well. After all, would you enjoy eating the same food out of a box, day in and day out for the rest of your life? No, right? That’s why many pet parents feel the need to mix things up, which invariably leads to the question, can you mix wet and dry dog food?
To find the answer, let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of dry dog food mixed with wet food, things to keep in mind when making this transition, and how to get it right. Whether you’re wondering how to mix wet and dry dog food or feel unsure about the mixing wet and dry dog food ratio, this guide has got you covered. First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what wet and dry dog food is.
What is Dry Dog Food?
Dry dog food, also known as kibble, is made by processing ingredients like grains, meats, and nutritional additives and then shaping them into pellets, which are cooked at high temperatures to remove water content. Dry dog food has 3-11% water and has a long shelf life. It remains one of the popular food choices among pet parents because,
- It is cost-effective
- Easier to store
- Makes for a hassle-free meal
- It is believed to be formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of pets
However, there are some disadvantages of dry dog food as well, such as digestive issues, weight gain in case of inadequate portion control, rancidity, and allergies to additives. Besides, most dogs tire of eating dry kibble after a while and can turn into picky eaters.
What is Wet Dog Food?
Wet dog food can be of two types: homemade or packaged. Now, nutritionally complete homemade meals are the top-tier wet dog option for your dog since they are made with fresh produce, contain high-quality ingredients, and are free of preservatives. However, homemade meals are effort-intensive and not every pet parent may have the capacity to serve them daily.
In such cases, packaged wet dog food can be a good alternative. These foods typically come in tins, pouches, or jars, and comprise gravy, sauce, or broth with ground meat or meat chunks. It has a lower shelf life. Once opened, it must be refrigerated for storage and consumed quickly.
- Dogs typically find wet food more appetizing
- It is also more amenable to the canine digestive system
- It has a higher protein content
On the flip side, packaged wet dog food is substantially costlier than dry food variants, it has a much shorter shelf life, and can be messier to handle.
Pros and Cons of Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food
As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages of dry dog food and wet dog food. You may want to offer your pet the best of both worlds, which begs the question: can you mix wet and dry dog food? Yes, you can. But there are some considerations to be mindful of to be able to discern how to mix wet and dry dog food correctly. To that end, let’s first take a look at the pros and cons of mixing wet and dry dog food:
| Pros of mixing wet and dry dog food | Cons of mixing wet and dry dog food |
| 1. Increased palatability: Not as much as humans, but dogs, too, tend to get bored of eating the same food over and over again. And can turn into picky eaters. Mixing wet and dry dog food can be a great way to add variety and get your dog excited about meals | 1. Potential for nutritional imbalance: Co-feeding wet and dry foods to your dog without attention to the nutritional profile of both varieties can lead to nutritional imbalances. Your pet may end up getting too much of one nutrient and not enough of another |
| 2. Nutritional variety: Including both wet and dry foods in your dog’s diet diversifies nutritional variety, making sure your pet doesn’t miss out on any essential nutrients | 2. Weight gain: Without calorie adjustment and portion control, keeping in mind the calorific value of both food varieties, mixed feeding can lead to weight gain |
| 3. Customized meals: It also gives you the option to customize your dog’s meals as per their taste and preference | 3. Increased waste: Wet food has a much shorter shelf life. If your dog doesn’t finish their meals in one go, the food can go bad, leading to large amounts being thrown away |
| 4. Ease of digestion: Mixing wet and dry dog food also aides better digestion, and hence, more optimal absorption of nutrients | 4. More effort-intensive: It is definitely more effort-intensive and time-consuming to mix wet and dry food for dogs |
Suggested Reading: How Long Does It Take a Dog to Digest Food?
Tips for Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food
Now that we understand the basics, let’s move on to the next important question: can you mix wet and dry dog food the right way? Is there a mixing wet and dry dog food ratio you need to keep in mind? What is the best wet dog food to mix with dry? Or does no such distinction exist? To help you find the answers to all these questions, here are some tips on how to mix wet and dry dog food:
1. Consult your vet or a canine nutritionist
When making a significant change to your dog’s diet, it’s advisable to consult your vet or a canine nutritionist to make sure you are feeding your pet the right food in the right amount, keeping in mind their age, health profile, and nutritional requirements. Making a shift to mix feeding is no exception. Given the number of dog food options available in the market today and the variety of homemade meals you can make for your dog, this becomes even more important.
2. Focus on portion control
Both wet and dry dog foods come with specific recommendations of portions for dogs of different sizes and body weights. Mixing the two isn’t quite as simple as replacing a portion of one type of food with an equal amount of the other because wet food has fewer calories per gram as compared to dry food, and the nutritional density of both these dog food varieties also varies.
To understand how to mix wet and dry dog food the right way, you need to study the labels and understand the nutritional and calorific profile of both and then make an informed decision about the quantities. This is also why seeking expert guidance on how can you mix wet and dry dog food correctly is vital.
Suggested Reading: How to Set a Puppy Feeding Schedule?
3. Transition gradually
Any change in your dog’s diet must be gradual and spread over a number of days. This gives their digestive system time to adjust and avoids any digestive distress. A good rule of thumb is to swap out 10% of their current food type with the food you are introducing every day till you get the desired balance of mixed food you intend to give your pet.
4. Mix things up
Mixing wet and dry dog food doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to literally combine the two in a bowl. Although that is an option, it’s not the only one. You can also choose to serve wet dog food as one meal and dry as another. Or you use wet food for meal times and dry food as a snack or treat (of course, dividing the two keeping in mind the portion size and calorie intake). Ultimately, figuring out how to mix wet and dry dog food boils down to what works best for you and your pet.
5. Make sure they get enough water
One of the benefits of mixing wet and dry dog food is that it offers better hydration since wet food has a far higher water content as compared to its dry counterpart. However, your dog’s hydration needs cannot be met through food alone. So, make sure your pet has access to fresh and clean drinking water at all times.
That’s everything you need to know about mixing wet and dry dog food. Use this as a guideline to determine what works best for you and your pet. And never compromise on the quality of ingredients when picking out food for your dog (be it wet or dry). Remember, it’s better to invest in your furry baby’s nutrition than their medicines.
